Dolkun Isa Calls for UN Accountability Over Xinjiang Legislation

Standing before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Uyghur activist Dolkun Isa demanded an urgent international response to China’s expanding legislative campaign. He warned that new domestic policies are being weaponized to systematically dismantle ethnic identities while silencing dissenters both inside and outside the country’s borders.

Editorial·June 25, 2026·reads: 224

Dolkun Isa Calls for UN Accountability Over Xinjiang Legislation

Isa, who serves as president of the Uyghur Centre for Democracy, pointed specifically to the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law enacted in March. He described the legislation as a sophisticated tool designed to formalize the restriction of Uyghur-language education and the forced expansion of boarding schools. By cloaking these actions in legal language, Beijing is effectively insulating its cultural erasure efforts from international scrutiny.

The activist further testified that the reach of these policies extends far beyond Xinjiang. He reported that members of the Uyghur diaspora are increasingly targeted by intimidation campaigns and state-sponsored disinformation. Many advocates have been forced to retreat from public life, paralyzed by the fear of retaliation against family members still living under the control of Chinese authorities. Invoking the 2022 UN assessment that identified potential crimes against humanity, Isa urged member states to move beyond rhetoric and pursue concrete accountability through the Human Rights Council.